Chapter 223: All stories has another side

The corner of Theo’s lips curled up even more while observing the grim look on the Bennet’s siblings. Now that the results were out, he didn’t mind sparing them an energy. After what they did to Patricia and their family, Theo had to show them who was inferior here.

"Atlas, don’t be angry," said Theo. "Like I said, everyone in here knew you did your best. So, don’t feel bad about yourself. Although you said you’d drop out if you failed to get into the star section, no one is expecting you to do such a thing. After all, you’re still an excellent student in the school."

Hugo glanced at the clown and asked, "What are you saying?"

"Oh, Hugo Bennet! You didn’t know?" Theo cocked his head to the side. "Atlas and I bet that if we failed to get into the star section, we would drop out!"

Theo smirked and looked around to see the crowd’s reaction. Much to his surprise, they were all looking at him strangely.

’What’s with this look?’ Theo frowned. ’Did they all forget the conditions of the bet?’

"Cousin," Keith elbowed him and leaned closer. "He’s there."

"Huh?"

Keith pointed at the new list, making Theo look at the list again. His smile stretched when he saw his own name in the tenth place. But when his gaze moved up a little more, the smile on his face cracked.

There, in the fourth place, was Atlas Bennet’s name.

"What?" Theo blurted out under his breath. "Atlas is in the fourth... fourth place?"

Compared to being the tenth place, that was a lot of ranks Atlas took.

What was going on?

On the bulletin board, the list of the old ranking of the star student was still there alongside their overall grade. It followed the previous format: the star section ranking, and then special mentions of the top student of each class. The only addition to it was the new ranking of the star section students for the next school year.

The new ranking showed the student’s name and their grades.

The reason Penny and Atlas’s faces were grim was because the top one and the top ten of the star section seemed to be playing with them. The previous rank one was no longer on the new star section list, even though he still got the highest score.

This only meant he was leaving school or something of the sort. In other words, Theo’s name wouldn’t even be in the star section if not for this. As for the rank tenth, he fell out of the star section completely. What made this infuriating was that he scored low — too low — on the final exam.

It was impossible for the tenth rank — Finn — to fall off the star section with a passing grade. It only showed it was deliberate.

’I studied hard, but it seemed they were playing all this time,’ Atlas thought, balling his hands into a tight fist. ’If Penny didn’t tutor me, I don’t think I’d do better than I did.’

Ignoring the new star section list and if one based it on the overall grade, Atlas would be ranked 6th in the star section. His grades made a huge leap in the final exam — thanks to Penny, who covered some very advanced lessons.

As for Penny, her reaction originated from something else.

’In my first life, Atlas was able to get into the star section,’ she thought while staring at the overall grades of everyone in the bulletin. ’So, I knew he would eventually get into the star section. But what is this?’

Atlas’s grades were three times better than how she remembered it in the past. That was because she tutored him and covered lessons that might come up in his exam. But if she based it on Atlas’s previous grade, his score back then was just five points higher than what Theo got. Still, it was far from the ninth place of the star section.

’Did First Brother get into the star section because the rank 1 left, vacating a spot for him to enter the star section?’ she wondered, a little horrified at the thought if she didn’t tutor Atlas. Looking at the name of the previous rank one, Dean Pierson. ’Now that I think about it, including Grace’s story, there’s always some sides of the story that I don’t know, huh? I guess this is the time for me to be careful.’

"Haha!" Theo laughed to divert the attention. "Isn’t this great, Atlas?! We both got into the top section!"

The students surrounding them grinned, knowing they won their bets somehow.

"Congrats!" Suddenly, a voice rang in the air, making everyone turn to the owner of the voice. When everyone’s eyes landed on the boy approaching, everyone quickly recognized him.

Finn. The previous rank 10th in the star section.

Finn stopped in front of the bulletin and smiled at Theo. "Theo Miller, you must be very happy to be in the star section."

"Ha ha..." Theo laughed, knowing Finn’s family was much richer and more influential than the Millers or the Bennets.

Finn chuckled and glanced at Penny and Atlas. "Congrats, Atlas Bennet. Even if the rank 1 left, you would’ve gotten in the star section no matter what." His eyes veered to Penny as if he knew it was Penny who helped Atlas.

"So, don’t glare at the bulletin like that," he continued, laughing. "Don’t get angry."

Atlas gazed at the guy coldly. "That doesn’t excuse the fact the star section seemed to be playing so much while their challengers were working hard."

"Haha! Atlas, come on. I’m sure you can see that everyone’s grades rose a few points from the previous semesters. My classmates studied hard... except me. But don’t worry. You’re not the one I want to play with; we’re in the same fan club, after all!"

Finn’s eyes squinted as he set them to Theo. He reached out to Theo’s shoulder and squeezed it, lowering his head a little. His jolly smile slowly looked cunning as he said;

"Theo Miller, I hope you enjoy being in the 10th rank," Finn dawdled. "There’s still one year for you in this school. You better watch out. When I was guarding it, people kept challenging the 10th rank. I hope you guard it that way and you should pray that I would enjoy the change of environment in the top section."

Theo gulped as he slowly gazed at Finn. ’Is that the threat? Is that his way of saying he would kick me out of the star section if he didn’t like being in the top section?’

The jubilant part of Theo’s heart was slowly replaced with pressure. With this, Theo couldn’t even enjoy getting into the star section anymore because he knew he had to study harder if he wanted to graduate as part of the star section. Otherwise, he would be in for a great humiliation.

Penny, on the other hand, couldn’t help but look up at Atlas. ’Back then... did First Brother get the same pressure from the star student when he entered it?’

*****

Meanwhile, in building 2, students flocked in front of the bulletin board to see the rankings of their grades. Strangely enough, all students carried one expression.

SHOCKED.

They all stared at one particular name and ranking, their jaws hitting the floor.

#7 of overall rank - Slater Bennet.

Slater stood among them motionless, appalled, and shocked himself. "Eh?!?!"